I’m currently breastfeeding my fourth child. I’ve spent a large chunk of the last almost eight years nursing babies. I thought at this point, I’d seen everything there was to see regarding breast milk..

But until recently, I had never seen breast milk jewelry. Members in our BabyCenter Community were discussing breast milk pendants and whether or not they could imagine buying or wearing one.

To be completely honest, I had no idea what to expect of breast milk jewelry, but it is surprisingly beautiful! I think there will probably be people who can’t get over the bodily fluid factor, but if you can and you’re nursing a baby, it’s a really interesting keepsake.

I searched for other gifts that can be made from your breast milk and included them in the slide-show below. Please note clicking a photo will take you to the creator’s Etsy store. Enjoy!

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I think it’s pretty cool! We spend so much time breastfeeding our children, it becomes a huge part of our lives. I think this is a neat way to memorialize your time doing it, without getting something like a tattoo. (what would that even look like?)

Momof4

The soap is beyond me (Gross)… the jewelry is cute..

AS

Eh, it is all a little strange to me. The jewelry is cute, but I’m just trying to imagine how I would feel if I had received such a gift from my mother…”Here honey, here is a lump of my preserved milk in a locket for you”..I would have probably been a little creeped out. Now, I definitely could see have one of the necklaces made for me as a memento of that time, but I try to avoid giving bodily fluids as gifts.

And who are you supposed to give the soaps to? Hand them out to friends as Christmas gifts?? Woah. Now I would like to see the expressions on some friends faces as they handle the soap as I casually mention it was crafted from my very own breastmilk!

Ah, but to each their own.

AS

The more I think of it I really might get one for myself!

fresh_as_daisies

I made soap out of my breastmilk, because I read that it was beneficial for eczema, which my son has. I don’t see anything gross about it myself. No different to me than using soap made from cow or goat milk.
And I actually had several people ask me for some. It’s very moisturizing, and I added some lavender essential oil, so it smells great, too. It works really well clearing up my son’s eczema.
I think the jewelry is a neat idea, too. I would never have thought to do it, but I like it.
I don’t understand why some people are so squeamish about anything related to breastfeeding.

shirley

I’ve always thought of breast milk as rather a uni-tasker … it has one purpose, and that’s to feed the baby. The jewelry is very pretty, but I don’t see myself handing over a pint of my baby’s food to make it!

Sarah

The jewelry is okay, the soap is understandable- I don’t know if I’d use it, but the preserved one is kind of gross.

Valerie

I think its beautiful! I am sad to be leaving this part of my life soon. It’s big the biggest challenge, and greatest reward, and most awesome accomplishment I’ve personally done. Degrees and careers don’t give me nearly the same pride as knowing I have kept my son and daughter alive in the most fragile and delicate time of their life. This is such a wonderful idea. Even if I am the only one that knows what it is.. it would be so beautiful to me!

Courtney

Breast milk is such a precious commodity, why would you want to waste any of it to make some jewelry…or soap!? If you really have a lot left over, the best would be to donate it. There are so many moms out there that need/want breast milk for their babies but can’t produce their own for various reasons. I don’t think I would have ever given away my stash for something like this…

http://facebook stephanie c.

I love all the breast milk jewelry. I would love to do something like this, just can’t afford it. It is so beautiful

Katie

I already have a keepsake from my breast feeding days. They’re called stretch marks! Lol not to be a party pooper, but I personally think it’s a little much..

Kristine

The soap and locket are a bit gross. I think the other jewelry, where the milk is fully encased is pretty.

http://mommabrain.com Paula

I think my child healthy child is the best keepsake I have from my breast milk. Also the huge block of cheese I made for christmas presents to all my friends. JK

Andrea

I love this idea! I love the hands so much! I breast fed all 3 of my girls. It was my favorite part of having a baby. I will truly miss it when my last is done. That is why I am not pushing her at all. I always let them ween themselves and usually by 1.5 yrs they were done. My second I had to stop a month shy of 1.5. I think because they eased off slowly it never hurt at the end. So I would love a necklace for each of my girls and me, like a reminder that we are all connected.

I think it’s a beautiful idea, even the soap. So creative and resourceful! I would love to have one of the pieces of jewelry to commemorate this special time with my baby, but it seems expensive. Thinking of nursing makes me feel so happy, and I would love something like that to give to my daughter one day. Perhaps when she becomes a mother is the right time. Before you have your own baby, you cannot understand the kind of love a mother feels for her child. It’s a love that only goes in one direction – forward.

Chris

Currently breastfeeding my 3rd and last, and I think the jewelry is beautiful, what a great idea. Nothing gross about it, represents a special time in your life and what a sacrifice a mom made for her child. And very little milk is used, not like you are wasting a bunch of milk…..many of us don’t have milk banks in our area to donate milk. Great idea!

Lilyana

I think this is a wonderful idea… I nursed my last child till she was 2 years and 3 months. We created a bond that can never be broken and what a special way to be able to preserve our “glue” to our bond. I currently have my milk in the freezer because the thought of throwing it away saddens me. This was a special time in our life that I will always cherish.

Katherine Martin

That’s such a cute idea (the soap and locket are a little much, though). I would love having one of those pieces of jewelry.

Also would like to add, Hi Katherine Martin!

Lyly

Omg these jewelry are so cute…I loved it, I don’t care what ppl say I really loved the hands one, I would love to have one for myself of course, I don’t think my 1 month and a half son would like that lol!! Maybe when he is way older he would appreciate it 😉

P.S. What do I have to do to get one? If possible.

Thank You! <3

Cassandra

I think it’s beautiful. I don’t see why the soap is ‘too out there’. I’m sure it’s great. Most soap is made with animal fat anyway…I don’t see how that’s not gross.

Mary

I don’t understand how all Americans are so overly sensitive about ‘human fluid’. You are ok with cows, goat even horse milk but not human milk which is made FOR human?
Breastfeeding has been one of the wonderful surprise of motherhood and would love to have a keepsake for my own sake. I love the soap idea too. I’ll try to make one for my son’s eczema. Thank you for the idea.

Becca

I am not squeamish about breastfeeding or breast milk. I have nursed two babies and that’s enough to be very comfortable with it all. With that being said – your milk being memorialized in jewelry, that’s just weird. Sure, it’s an important part of your life and your baby’s life, but it’s also a very small part of your lives. The 12-18-24 months you spend breastfeeding is nothing compared to the rest of the time you will spend raising and nurturing your child. Besides, can you imagine your mother-in-law, partner’s mother wearing a piece of jewelry with her milk from the time she fed her son?! Weird … who wants to think of their partner’s mother breastfeeding them?

http://Facebook.com Jen

That is so cute!!! A very interesting idea, obviously lots of different opinions but mine is that it’s a sweet way for a mom to cherish that precious time spent nursing her child(ren) and giving them life. It’s a beautiful notion and I’m sure one that many many mothers appreciate. … And the soap could just be for the child. It’s well known that mother’s milk is the cure for cradle cap, baby acne, stuffy noses, ear or eye infections, whatever. If there’s a physical ailment on baby, a few drops applied directly is almost always beneficial. So mommy’s milk for babies/kids has to be just as beneficial for their skin with as many nutrients it contains. I say, don’t hand ’em out to friends for christmas, but kids can benefit from mother’s milk no matter what form it comes in.

Corie

I am definitely going to buy one, the jewelry that is!!! currently nursing my 11 week old daughter (only girl and last child) and would love a memento from nursing and all my hard work

Laura

I’m totally not understanding why I am seeing words like “gross” and “creeped out” associated with this jewelry. It’s a beautiful keepsake. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Rachelle

hi! how can i buy one? i like the breastmilk pendant with child’s name framed in hand-stamped circle.
thanks!

Momof4

The only reason I think the soap is gross, is because I would be washing my body with my milk. And that kinda grosses me out.
But then again I don’t use bar soap either.

I have breastfed all of mine, and am very happy to have my kids to show for it. the cute hands jewelry I like.

brianna

I love the bracelet. the one with the pink stone and heart that Is actually my daughters name Mila! i want it so bad

http://www.diamondzz.com sell gold in Houston

Hi, I’ve been reading the weblog a couple of days and merely wanted to say that the way with words is top notch. All the best.

Rebecca

These are really beatiful, meaningful, subtle pieces of jewelry that commemorate a very special unique time in a mother’s life that won’t be repeated again. How many other things do we have keepsakes for that we think nothing of (sand from a vacation, a lock of one’s 1st haircut, horse droppings of a famous race horse (seriously my MIL has such), etc…), so why should innocent breastmilk be so taboo? The soap is very beneficial as breastmilk has much more than just one use/purpose; it has wonderful therapeutic and healing properties as others brought out. It’s really sad so many in this country, even some who breastfeed, are so ignorant about breastmilk. I personally wouldn’t give it out as gifts, but I’d like a piece of breastmilk jewelry for myself (no need to announce to others what it’s made with, including future in-laws). If my DC wanted it when they’re older, I could pass it on to them, but I see it more of a keepsake for a mother.
Regarding “wasting breastmilk” for this, the ammount they require isn’t even enough to donate – “Collect over a period of weeks, refrigerate your milk and collect a few drops everyday. … I only need a small amount 1-2 tablespoons or about 30ml.” http://breastmilkpendants.blogspot.com/p/tips-for-collecting-milk.html . I breastfeed each of my children 2yrs minimum, and I’ve never had an oversupply at all, but I could collect 1-2T without depriving DC at all. I’d love to have the breastmilk soap for my family (me, DH, kids) to use – especially instead of baby shampoos and washes.

http://www.diamondzz.com sell gold jewelry in Houston

If you keep submitting well written articles just like this then I will always keep returning back to your blog. Really good material.

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